Oral & facial development with soothers

Things we don't think about when we have little ones!

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Soothers are not ideal for oral and facial development. It can lead to narrow palates & mouth breathing.

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This doesn't happen in every case because every individual develops differently but it is more likely to happen.

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If needed, try to use soothers for six months or under!

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Mouth breathing can lead to improper jaw growth, which means there isn't always enough room for the tongue and soft tissues in the back.

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This can lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea makes your heart work very hard as it tries to get oxygen into the body.

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The heart muscle ends up pumping harder and harder and eventually grows large, which isn't a good thing with respect to this one muscle.

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Sleep apnea is associated with many co-morbidities.

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Being a mom, I actually tried to use a soother but I'm "lucky" because my son didn't like them.

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If it's possible, try to get your little one weened from soothers by six months. This will prevent all these issues.

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Sure, you can go get your uvula removed with an ENT doc or jaw surgery to "treat" sleep apnea but surgery often doesn't work.

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Orthodontic expansion can be completed to allow room for oral tissues and sometimes this works but if the nose is already narrow then, it may require nasal surgery too!

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Parenting is not easy, but Polished Dental Hygiene Vancouver is here to inform so you can make the best decisions for you and your family.